Japan tax-free: can you open or use what you bought before leaving?
From 1 November 2026 tax-free shops no longer seal consumables in a bag. Goods other than consumables can be used in Japan as long as you take them out. Food, drinks, medicine and cosmetics are different: if you use any part of them in Japan, customs cannot confirm the receipt and nothing on it is refunded.
What you can use in Japan
The answer depends on whether the goods are consumables.
| Goods | If you use them in Japan | At the customs check |
|---|---|---|
| Food and drink, medicine, cosmetics and other consumables | Any part eaten, drunk or used up | Cannot be confirmed |
| Goods other than consumables | Used, and still with you when you leave | Can be confirmed |
Used some of it? Do not use the terminal. Tell a customs officer at the counter that you consumed the goods.
One missing item cancels the whole receipt
The National Tax Agency's example is a receipt of 91,000 yen with three items.
| Item on the receipt | Price on the receipt | Case 1 | Case 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Item A | 3,000 yen | With you | With you |
| Item B | 75,000 yen | With you | With you |
| Item C | 13,000 yen | Not with you | With you |
| Result | 91,000 yen | Nothing on the receipt is confirmed | Everything is confirmed |
Keep the boxes and bags
Customs has to be able to tell that the goods are the ones on the receipt.
Keep the goods in the box or bag they were sold in until you leave. If packaging that shows the model number is thrown away, or separated from the goods, customs may not be able to identify them and may not confirm them.
Frequently asked questions
Can I open tax-free bags in Japan?
From 1 November 2026 there is no sealed bag. Goods other than consumables can be used. Food, drinks, medicine, cosmetics and other consumables have to stay unused, or the receipt loses its refund.
What happens if I eat tax-free snacks in Japan?
Customs cannot confirm them when you leave. Nothing on that receipt is refunded, and you tell a customs officer instead of using the terminal.
Can I use things I bought tax-free before leaving Japan?
Yes, if they are not consumables and you take them out of Japan. Keep the packaging that shows the model number.
What if I lost one item from a tax-free receipt?
Nothing on that receipt can be confirmed, so none of its tax is refunded.
Related items
Official FAQ: Japan Tourism Agency
Sources for this page
- National Tax Agency Q&A on the tax-free shop system under the refund method, overview, April 2026 (輸出物品販売場制度に関するQ&A)checked October 2, 2026
- Japan Tourism Agency Frequently Asked Questions for Travelers (Refund Method)checked October 2, 2026
- Japan Tourism Agency Refund method: page for travellers (旅行者向け特設ページ)checked October 2, 2026
- Japan Tourism Agency Refund method leaflet for travellers (English)checked October 2, 2026
Compiled by Japan Japan !! · Updated October 2, 2026